Most of us have a favourite colour or two, and whilst it might influence what t-shirt you wear or the colour of your living room, you wouldn’t expect it to have much influence over the decisions you make. However, there is evidence to show that we have subconscious reactions to certain colours, and this can play a part in drawing us towards a business.

This is an important factor that you should keep in mind when it comes to designing the signage for your business. As one of the biggest and most important advertisements you can have, you should be aware of what the colours of your signage say about you and which ones can be used to your advantage.

To explain further, signage specialists Judson Signs, share the hidden psychology behind the colours of signage and why it matters for your brand.

Red

We all know that we can associate the colour red with emotions such as love or anger, so it stands to reason that it will impact on what we think about when we see a sign in this colour. Red is usually associated with urgency and grabbing attention, and so it is likely to make a customer feel like they need to take a particular action such as coming inside or taking you up on a special offer. When you look around, you will notice that most sales are advertised using a red background or red lettering for this very reason.

Red is something that is used across a number of different industries, but it is most commonly seen in entertainment, food, sport, and children’s products as it is one of the three primary colours.

Blue

Blue is a colour that is often associated with trust, and so is used in an environment where you might be trying to tell a story or making your customer feel relaxed. It can be very calming and is good for a gentle suggestion rather than a firm point. Darker hues of blue bring about thoughts of loyalty and security which makes them a winner with both security and health businesses, whilst light blue shades tend to express freedom and joy and can most commonly be seen in signage adopted by communication and children’s projects.

Green

Thanks to its frequency within nature, green is also a very relaxed colour and so it is typically used in anything relating to the environment or the natural world. That means it is great for anything that might be eco-friendly, or even natural food, health supplements or fabrics. It is worth remembering that green is also the colour of money and can create thoughts of wealth and so is often used in signage to promote financial products or simply for things that might make you feel a little richer.

Lighter greens are considered the more natural, kind, and dependable shades that are used in environmental and educational signage whilst the darker shades are preferred by those working in property or banking.

Orange

As a lively colour, orange can often be used as a motivator. It is also used as part of a call to action and so is great for limited time offers and promotions as it encourages customers to act immediately. As orange can also represent creativity and adventure, you might see it most commonly used around art, entertainment, and adventure.

Yellow

The colour of happiness, yellow is a great colour for drawing people in. It can be combined with red for promotional messages or used in conjunction with some of the calmer colours for a more relaxed and positive vibe. When we think of yellow, we very often picture the sunshine, and many positive connotations, which is why it is used so frequently by the travel and leisure industries.

Pink

As a very feminine colour, pink is still a good way to target a particular demographic. It can demonstrate that this is a business that might appeal to young females and is generally associated with something fun or caring. Pink is seen as a very youthful colour and so it can often be associated with beauty or fashion.

Purple

Purple is most commonly used around royalty, so it can create images of grandeur, riches, and sophistication. It is a great colour to help give your business an air of prestige. However, if you choose a violet shade, then you will find that people start to think about spirituality and compassion making it perfect for anything creative or humanitarian, rather than the luxury of deeper hues of purple.

Gold

Gold might also be associated with wealth and prestige, but it is also linked to power. When matched with purple or gold, it can symbolise wealth and pedigree.

Grey

Grey was once thought of as a very weak colour, but it has crept back into fashion thanks to the fact that it can evoke feelings of quietness and composure. It can be used in conjunction with other relaxing colours, and it remains a mature and timeless option for many brands.

Brown

Brown is also directly linked with nature, but is also seen as a very stable, reliable, common-sense colour, making it great for anything in the world of agriculture as well as food, and even construction, transportation, or the law.

Black

Black is a very powerful colour, and it gives a strong sense of control and authority. Given the strength of feeling that it can convey, it is rarely used alone, and is incorporated into signage of other colours to give a hint of this without being overwhelming.

When you look around, you will see that many of the biggest brands in the world have stuck with their chosen colour scheme for a very long time, and this is not an accident. The colours that they have chosen to do a lot to project who they are as well as who they want to attract, and this is something that we are all now aware of. Giving your own colour choices some careful thought can help you to pitch your business in a particular way and ensure that your signage is not just seen but recognised as well.